Tire deflation indicating device



June 8, 1948. P. H. MERONEY TIRE DEFLAI'ION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 8, 1948. P. H. MERONEY 2,442,956

TIRE DEFLATION INDICATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 28, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ki I u N $1 w cx/cpfl Patented June 8, 1 948 UN! BATE-N OFF! CE;

TIREDEFLATION INDIGATIN G DEVICE Paul H @Meroney, Canby; Calif. Application November 28, 1944,'Seria1N o. 565,539

1 'Claimr (01.. 200-i-58 Y This invention relates to means for indicating to the driver of a motor vehicle-theta pneumatic tire of-the Vehicle-isabnormallyndefiated; when,- ever the latter occurs.

The primary object ofthe present invention isto provide a tire defiationindicating means-of the above kind which is comparatively simple in construction, easy to install, and efficient in operation:

More particularly, the. present invention contemplates the provision of an indicating signal and .:means .for xrendering said signal-operative including a road engaging element adapted :tO, contact the road or ground whenthe-associated vehicle tire becomes abnormally deflated, means being provided for mountingsaid road engaging element 'in' a suitable position upon the-vehicle axle in such a way that it-may-yield rearwardly in case it should-strike anobstruction,- whereby serious damage to or destruction ofthe road-contacting element or its mounting will be avoided.

The present inventionecontemplates the provision of a separate signal and controlling means thereforassociated with each efthe wheels of a'vehi cle so that the particular-tire or tires which may be abnormally-deflated can be readily determined.

With the above general objects in view, the present invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a motor vehicle chassis equipped with signal controlling means constructed in accordance with the present invention, one such controlling means being associated with or adjacent each wheel of the vehicle.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view looking towards the right of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the signal controlling means as illustrated in Figure 3, but drawn on a larger scale for sake of clearness; and

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram showing the manner in which the various signals and controlling therefor may be connected in circuits associated with a common source of electricity.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 indicates the frame of a motor vehicle chassis equipped with the usual front and rear supporting Wheels 212 havingpneumatic tires In accordance with the presentinvention, a signal controlling means is associated with each vehicle wheel and mounted upon the vehicle inwardly of the associated vehiclewheel as shown in Figure 3 with respect to thefront vehicle wheels, and asshown in Figure! with =respect to the rear vehicle wheels. Each such-signal controllingmeans consists of a verticalmountl havinga-forked lower end in which is JOur-nllleda ground or road engaging element 8 preferablyin the formof a roller loosely mounted upon a pin or axle 9 for limited vertical movement relativeto the mount '1. Themount l is hinged atthe top as at lO-to an attaching plate It suitably boltectto'the associated axle memberor axle housingt As shown 'in Figures-2 and 3, theaxle member will consist of thelowervertically-movable arm -I 2 of the usualknee actionconstruction, while= suoh memberwillconsist of the rear axle housing l3 with -respect to the signal controlling means associated with the rear vehicle wheel. The hinge I0 is so provided as to permit-rearward swinging of the mount l relative to the attaching. plate! I and. the associated axle member orihousingin thelevent that the roller or contact element 'Bmeets-With' a serious road obstruction. Thus, by permitting the mount to swing rearwardly as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3, serious damage to or destruction of the signal controlling means will be prevented under abnormal conditions. To releasably retain the mount in its forwardly swung or normal operative position as shown by full lines in Figure 3, a suitable clip I4 may be engaged with the attaching plate I l and the mount 1. When the mount 1 is forced rearwardly by suiiicient power, the clip M will be spread so that the rearward swinging of the mount 1 relative to attaching plate II will be permitted.

Carried by the mount 1 directly above the road contacting element or roller 8 is a switch I 5 which controls the signal circuits for the associated signal controlling means, and this switch includes a movable contact I 6 and a vertically movable operating element [1 therefor arranged directly above the road contacting element or roller 8. The arrangement is such that when the tire 6 becomes abnormally deflated the element or roller 8 will engage the ground and be moved upwardly so as to force the operating member I! upwardly and thereby actuate the movable contact 16 of switch l5 so that the latter will close the associated signal circuit. While this switch may be of any preferred or well known construction, it is shown as having the movable contact I6 carried by a horizontal plunger normally engaging in a recess I8 provided in one side of the vertically movable actuating member 11 and normally pressed into engagement therewith by a spring IS. The arrangement is such that when the member I! is normally positioned the plunger will engage in the recess at [8 and hold the member I! in normal operative position. However, when the member I1 is forced'upwardly by the roller or contact element 8, the plunger or contact- I6 will yield and permit the same to rise, after which the frictional engagement of said plunger with member l'l will hold the latter elevated so that the signal will remain operative until the member I! is again manually lowered as permitted by restoration of the tire 6 to its proper inflated position or by jacking the associated wheel upwardly relative to the ground so that the contact or roller 8 is disengaged from the ground. The signal controlled by each switch 15 may be of any preferred kind such as a signal light 29 shown in Figure 6. As shown in this figure, the switch l associated with each vehicle wheel may be wired to a separate signal 20, and all of the signals may receive current from a single battery or source of electricity 2|. The'signal controlling means associated with the rear wheels of the vehicle as shown in Figures 1 and 4 will be identical with those associated with the front wheels of the vehicle except for slight change in the specific means for attaching the plate II to the vehicle.

Thus, with separate signals controlled by the switches for the various vehicle wheels, the opby those skilled vehicle, a rigid roller mount hinged at the rear of its upper end to the rear of said attaching member for forward and downward and rearward and upward swinging movement relative thereto, the upper end of said roller mount being movable into contact with said attaching member so as to be limited by the latter in its forward and downward swinging movement to a substantially vertical position, a roller journaled on the lower end of said roller mount for limited vertical movement relative to the latter and arranged to contact the ground so that the device will assume the vehicle supporting function of said wheel when a tire of the vehicle becomes partially deflated, a fastening element engaging the attaching member and said roller mount to retain the latter in its substantially vertical forwardly and downwardly swung position under normal road conditions but releasable by contact of the roller with an obnormal road obstruction to permit rearward and upward swinging movement of said mount, and switch means operable by said roller to close a signal circuit upon upward movement of said roller relative to said mount due to contact of said roller with the ground and assumption of the supporting function of said wheel by said device.

PAUL H. MERO'NEY.

REFERENCES crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Sept. 30, 1935 

